Weekly Findings

It has been a whirlwind of a week that started with my parents leaving and Lukasz and I returning to work after a much needed week off. And yet, I’m still finding myself staring at the photos like the one above, wishing I was vacationing somewhere in Maine and feeling the waves crashing at my feet or maybe kayaking or canoeing on the calm waters of Acadia National Park. I don’t know what it is but I’m feeling a little tired of the hustle and bustle of the city life and I think I’m ready and long overdue for some calm. I don’t know if this feeling is permanent though so I’m gonna wait it out for a bit because there are times where I feel like there is no city like New York. But still… something about Maine calls to me. I was last there when we had just found out we were pregnant and I’m dying to return with Little P on a family vacation. Anyways, besides my wistfulness, life has been pretty steady and I’ve been pouring over photos from Petra’s party. It was a good day! I can’t wait to share. 🙂 Here are some interesting links I found on the web this past week.

My Family’s Slave: What a heart wrenching article this was! I need everyone to read it. I stumbled upon it on Facebook and it is so well written and so heart breaking and so moving. It’s been on my mind for days.

How many avocado toasts does it cost to buy a house: I don’t know how many people saw the interview of the millionaire giving millennial some hearty advice about how millennials can’t buy a home eating $14 avocado toasts and $4 coffee but I guess The Kitchn did the math!

Chris Cornell passed away at 52: Man, this really sucks. I obviously wasn’t his biggest fan or anything but I did love his music and he was such an important voice for grunge music. And it made me miss the 90’s. Remember Nirvana and Pearl Jam and Mudhoney?? I think the nostalgia bug has bit me hard today…

How to protect your skin from pollution: This article from Into The Gloss made me realize that so many of us worry about the sun but, living in a big city, we have more to worry about like pollution. Glossier’s new sunscreen is my shield of choice against sun AND pollution. Any other recommendations to try?

10 fashionable and functional backpacks: Yessss, how long have I been telling moms to ditch the diaper bag? The backpack is literally the best handbag when carrying around a little. I use the Kanken myself and its the best!

1. Vans Toddler Mono Canvas Old Skool V: I’m just a tiny bit obsessed with the color “Millenial Pink” which is the most ridiculous name so maybe I’ll just call it baby pink? Speaking of baby, I just ordered these for Petra. I’m obsessed. I’m literally about to order a pair for myself. Have to take advantage of her being too little to complain about matching Mommy and Me outfits! (Which is what my wishlist is mostly made of.)

2. Invisible Shield Sunscreen coming soon!: The cat’s out of the bag, guys! Glossier has made their very own sunscreen and it’s going to be launching SOON. I, for one, am super excited to try it considering these guys are all about skincare and bare-faced beauty. I even heard the sunscreen is a serum consistency made to sink right into your skin so no more white streaks! Don’t forget that I’m a rep for the brand so if you’re looking to grab some before it inevitably sells out, bookmark my rep page. (You also get 20% off your first order!)

3. The best beauty tips from Mom: If you’re going to get makeup advice from anyone, get it from the moms. They’re the ones that are going to know the short cuts and tips and tricks on how to look presentable with little time on your hands or with a little one tugging at the arms. Personally, my favorite time of the day is putting on makeup in front of my mirror while Petra sits next to me, happily playing with my little makeup tubes.

4. Wow in the World: Podcasts are pretty big right now and everyone has their own preference. I personally love interviews and short stories while my friend, Tatiana, loves murder mysteries. Now NPR is releasing a podcast made just for kids that covers topics like science and technology. Petra is too young for it at the moment (it’s geared for kids ages 5-12) but I’m pretty excited to have a listen because why not? It’s like Bill Nye the Science Guy for your ears.

These days, the weeks seem to fly by, constantly seeming like every day is a countdown to the next holiday which is fine by me. I’m sure so many out there are ready to kiss 2016 goodbye and get on with it. While this year hasn’t been that bad for me (New baby, cute fiancée, I’m doing alright) I know politically and just in general, it hasn’t been the best year. We do plan to end the year on a positive note. My parents will come to visit for two weeks starting next weekend and I’m really excited to spend another Christmas in New York. We even got our tree this past weekend which I’ll post pictures of soon.

Salt Dough Ornaments: I just got some supplies to make some gold salt dough ornaments! Does anyone remember making these when we were kids? I really want to make one of Petras hand so we can keep it forever and ever! And I also bought every Christmas cookie cutter shape imaginable! Salt dough ornaments everywhere!

Most Popular Baby Names of 2016: Of course, “Petra” is nowhere to be found ;). But I can definitely say that we came pretty close with Sophia as an option for a name. It was hard for us, like I’ve previously mentioned, finding a name that sounds the same in Polish, English and Spanish. I also really loved the name Zosia, which is a diminutive of Sophia in Polish but Lukasz vetoed that one.

Wes Anderson H&M Commercial: One of my favorite directors made a holiday ad for H&M! It’s got all the signs of classic Wes Anderson with his beautiful color palettes and perfect symmetry! It reminds me a little of Darjeeling Limited, which I loooove.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside… Updated: The song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” happens to be my favorite holiday song ever. I know that every year the debate arises about how creepy it is, but I think it’s an adorable duet. For those that feel the former, this is an updated version of the song that makes it feel a little more updated and friendlier.

Mom is Queen I really enjoyed this article by The New York Times about how more people are using the word “mom” to refer to someone they admire or look up to. It’s such a different take and change of the jargon most of the youth culture comes up with today. Or maybe I just want to be a cool mom, ha!

This picture best describes the mood I’ve been in lately: lazy, waiting for fall and wanting to curl up in bed with Lukasz and the baby for some quality time together. Lukasz celebrated a birthday this week and we spent the day driving away from the city. We ended up in Woodstock, NY after missing the exit for New Paltz, haha. I’ll be posting pictures of the day soon. Other than that, we have been consistently busy which makes the time we’re able to spend together more precious to me. It’s hard not to feel nostalgic even for last week when time flies by so quickly and Petra is growing extremely fast. Thank goodness today is Friday. I’m already looking forward to tonight, when Lukasz and I will share a bottle of hard cider we picked up along the road at an orchard on our trip upstate. It’s the little things!

1. Brad and Angelina are getting a divorce: And while I don’t find this news particularly interesting, this article by Vulture made me laugh. I don’t know if it was supposed to be funny but whatever.

2. Trying to conceive after Mirena: Full transparency, I’m in the market for a form of contraception and I’m really cautious about any contraception involving hormones. I found this readers experience particularly interesting.

3. 25 Recipes to jump into fall: I’ve been sitting on this article since Monday. I want to make everything! Can fall just get here already? PUMPKIN EVERYTHING ✊🏻

4. Nice as Fuck Tshirt: has been on my wishlist. I love this vintage feel of it. I also believe that they might be sold in collaboration with Jenny Lewis’s bands album. Gotta check it out.

5. No, I’m from New York: this article from the New Yorker has me cracking up! “Already ripe avocados? Get out of here with that nonsense, Ralphs. I’m from New York, where, in lieu of avocados, grocery stores put out six hundred petrified dragon eggs and shoppers must squeeze every last one of them before buying the softest but still rock-hard option, and then bring it home and watch it go from unripe to completely rotten without ever once being edible.” This definitely isn’t LA!

This week, like all weeks now, has flown by. Its so funny how time goes by so quickly when you have a baby that doesn’t leave your sight. I’m literally trying to tie up loose ends as my maternity leave comes to an end and as you can guess, I am riddled with all the anxiety. But nevertheless, I am trying to remain positive and am definitely feeling thankful that the weekend is here! Here are some things that made me smile this past week.

Theresa May’s Hubby Steals the Show: With Theresa May being named Britain’s new Prime Minister and the second woman who has ever held this title, I was absolutely giddy when the focus fell on her husband and his style as he started his life as Britain’s “first man”.

Jennifer Aniston’s Post: Jennifer Aniston’s editorial on how the media scrutinizes women was everything. She’s so honest and direct and I loved it because the media has been hounding this girl down for years always speculating if she’s pregnant. WHO CARES. And she made some serious points women not always needing to be married or have children. Let’s decide those things for ourselves.

Snoop Dog and The Game Lead Peaceful Protest: With all the news lately, it just seems like this world is falling apart. It scares me to my core to think about the kind of world Petra is going to be living in and it saddens me so much to hear about the struggles that so many people are facing. That’s why this article and video of a peaceful protest totally made my week. I won’t elaborate on anything else, just read and listen.

The Evolution of Maternity Style: This article randomly popped up on my Facebook news feed and it was dated a few weeks back so I’m a little late to the party but this is fascinating. I have always wondered how people dressed if they were pregnant back in the day. Like really far back in the day. So crazy to see what has changed.

Beach House, the band: This isn’t exactly news but gosh, I just love this band. I’ve been really into them lately. Victoria Legrand’s voice just kiiiiiills me, its so beautiful. I also received a record player for my birthday so I’ve been busting out my old Beach House records to have a listen. Here’s a playlist on Apple Music of the best Beach House songs.

Ah yes, the end of the week! After I posted my last blog post, I feel like the day sort of went downhill. Petra decided not to nap for the rest of the day, I had some package problems, and lastly, I got sick. I’m not a doctor, obviously, but after a quick internet search, I think I might have Mastitis. I really need to drop the habit of googling symptoms and actually go to the doctor but I’m ok for now. I’ve also been debating taking Petra on the subway so we can take a walk around Manhattan and maybe go to Central Park so I think those might be my weekend plans. In the meantime, he’s some fun internet reads:

1. Winnie: I’ve actually quit Facebook this week and have been spending more time reading articles on Twitter. From TechCrunch, I came across this new app called Winnie. Aimed at parents that like to spend time exploring with little ones, the app shows you kid friendly attractions nearby like parks and kid-friendly restaurants. It even offers details like whether the restaurant is stroller friendly or can accommodate high chairs. I love it!

2. Social Media Etiquette for the Newly Engaged: Obviously when Łukasz and I got engaged, one of the things I did was follow a few wedding blogs on social media to gather inspiration. Style Me Pretty posted this article about social media etiquette do’s and don’ts. I’ve always been a big fan of etiquette, I’ve even read Emily Post books for fun but in this day and age, it’s definitely a little confusing how etiquette plays into our social media lives. This list is definitely perfect.

3. #EverestNoFilter: This, THIS is probably one of my favorite things that happened this week. Two climbers decided to snap chat their way to the top of Everest. What a feat! If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be on top of the world, definitely give this a watch. I’ve literally watched this like 3 times so far.

4. Can Tylenol Help Heal a Broken Heart?: The latest essay of Modern Love just really intrigued me but, really, they all do. If you haven’t checked out the New York Times column, you definitely should. They also started a podcast at the end of last year where a celebrity reads a modern love essay followed by a 15 minute discussion with the author. It’s so good and they’re all so heartfelt.

5. Northside Festival: If you guys are in the North Williamsburg area, check out the Northside Festival happening this weekend. It officially started last night but the festivities are ongoing. Last year, they even closed down Bedford Ave.

As I write this post, I am about 4 days past my due date. I can’t even begin to express the frustration that is building up inside of me but let’s just say it feels like a baby girl that is getting bigger by the week and I need her to come out of me right now. Not to be too much TMI but I’ve been feeling a lot of cramping and I’m hoping our baby girl will join us on the outside soon especially because tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I’m super bummed to be skipping out on this day because our daughter isn’t here yet! Oh well. To all the moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

1. The Most Popular Baby Names of 2015: The social security administration just released the list for the top baby names of 2015 with Emma at number one for the ladies and Noah at number one for the gentlemen. We’re still keeping ours a secret but it definitely wasn’t in the Top 10!

2. Morning Routines for Busy Women: I came across this list this very morning and I found it inspiring. Though at the moment, my morning routine consists of absolutely nothing, just a lot of waiting, I’ve always been the kind of person that craves routine because it makes me feel more organized and less stressed. I can definitely say that I’m a morning person and I can’t wait to get back into something semi-consistent.

3. This SMOOTHIE: So I guess this list is mostly about mom stuff but I was so excited to stumble upon this recipe for a post-partum peanut butter and jelly smoothie. It’s funny how over prepared you can be for pregnancy and birth but forget about the “after” part. This cookbook from Heng Ou is brilliant on ways to nourish a new mother. Don’t forget about YOU.

4. 8 Fun Ideas For A Girl’s Night In: Kate Spade is definitely my vice when it comes to anything “fashion”. Everything just always looks so put together and bright and happy. They’re making pajamas now and released this super cute list of ideas for a girl’s night in. Not to be cheesy but this is the kind of thing I sometimes can’t wait to share with our baby girl.

5. Mother’s Day Brunch: I didn’t ask for anything this mother’s day because I’m still very much pregnant and also because I just hate asking for things. Can’t people just read my mind and know what I want already? Here’s a hint: it’s brunch. I love breakfast, like a good full-on breakfast with all the fixings, and maybe a mimosa or sangria. And I love this little menu of a good mother’s day breakfast. Everything looks fresh, healthy and delicious! But also, like, french toast works too.